Reinforced thermoplastic composition and articles derived therefrom

ABSTRACT

A reinforced thermoplastic composition includes a poly(arylene ether), a poly(alkenyl aromatic) compound, a polyolefin, a hydrogenated block copolymer with a high alkenyl aromatic content, a polyolefin-graft-cyclic anhydride copolymer, and a reinforcing filler. The composition exhibits high stiffness while maintaining high impact strength.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication Serial No. 60/258,835, filed Dec. 28, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0002] Compositions comprising poly(arylene ether)s and polyolefins areknown in the art, and compositions further comprising a variety ofimpact modifiers and compatibilizing agents have been described.

[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 4,764,559 to Yamauchi et al. generally describes acomposition comprising (a) a polyphenylene ether having a low degree ofpolymerization, with or without a styrene resin, (b) a polyolefin, and(c) a styrene compound/conjugated diene block copolymer or ahydrogenation product thereof. Use of inorganic fillers, such as glassfiber, potassium titanate whiskers, talc, and precipitated calciumcarbonate, is described.

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,997 to Shibuya et al. generally describes acomposition comprising (a) a polyolefin resin, (b) a polyphenylene etherresin, and (c) a hydrogenated block copolymer of an alkenyl aromaticcompound and a conjugated diene that contains 45-80 weight percent of arepeating unit derived from the alkenyl aromatic compound. Addition offillers, such as glass fiber, wollastonite, potassium titanate whiskers,mica, talc, and calcium carbonate, is described.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4,892,904 to Ting generally describes compositionscomprising (a) a polyphenylene ether, (b) a poly(alkenyl aromatic)resin, (c) a polyolefin resin, (d) an alkenyl aromatic copolymer orterpolymer, and (e) a minor amount of fibrous glass.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,071,912 to Furuta et al. generally describes acomposition comprising (a) a polyphenylene ether, (b) a styrene-modifiedpropylene polymer or a composition containing a styrene-modifiedpropylene polymer and polypropylene, and (c) at least two rubberysubstances, one being compatible with (a) and the other incompatiblewith (a). Use of reinforcing agents and inorganic fillers is described.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,081,187 to Maruyama et al. generally describes acomposition comprising specific amounts of (a) a polyolefin, (b) apolyphenylene ether, (c) a partially hydrogenated alkenyl aromaticcompound-isoprene block copolymer, and (d) an alkenyl aromaticcompound-conjugated diene block copolymer. Use of fillers, such as glassfiber, wollastonite, potassium titanate, whisker, mica, talc, andcalcium carbonate, is described.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,206,281 to Furuta et al. generally describescompositions comprising (a) a polyphenylene ether, (b) a propylenepolymer modified by grafting with a styrene-based monomer, alone or incombination with a propylene polymer, (c) a rubbery substance, and (d)an inorganic filler having an average particle diameter of 0.05-10micrometers.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,418,287 to Tanaka et al. generally describes acomposition comprising (a) a polyphenylene ether, (b) a crystallinepolyolefin resin, and (c) a graft copolymer where the backbone is acopolymer of (i) ethylene or at least one C₃-C₁₂ alpha-olefin, and (ii)at least one chain nonconjugated diene. Use of reinforcing agents, suchas glass fibers, mica, talc, precipitated calcium carbonate, silica,wollastonite, and potassium titanate whisker, is described.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 6,031,049 to Chino et al. generally describes acomposition comprising specific amounts of (a) a component composed ofsyndiotactic polystyrene and a polyolefin, (b) a block or graftstyrene-olefin copolymer having a styrene content of 40 to 85% byweight, and (c) a polyphenylene ether. Use of inorganic fillers isdescribed.

[0011] European Patent Application No. 412,787 A2 to Furuta et al.generally describes compositions comprising (a) a polyphenylene ether,(b) a propylene polymer modified by grafting with a styrene-basedmonomer alone or in combination with another copolymerizable monomer,with or without an unmodified propylene polymer, and (c) a rubberysubstance having chain A miscible with all or part of (a) and chain Bmiscible with all or part of (b). Use of reinforcing agents, includingglass fiber filaments, is described.

[0012] The commercial value of the above described compositions has beenlimited by deficiencies in the balance between stiffness and impactstrength, as well as the consistency of various properties from batch tobatch and from molded sample to molded sample within the same batch.There remains a need for poly(arylene ether)-polyolefin compositionshaving improved property balances. In particular, there remains a needfor poly(arylene ether)-polyolefin compositions exhibiting improvedimpact strength at high stiffness. There also remains a need forpoly(arylene ether)-polyolefin compositions exhibiting reducedbatch-to-batch and sample-to-sample variability in key properties,including stiffness and impact strength.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0013] The above described and other drawbacks and disadvantages of theprior art are alleviated by a composition, comprising: a poly(aryleneether); a poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin in an amount of at least about10weight percent of the total of the poly(arylene ether) and thepoly(alkenyl aromatic) resin; a polyolefin; a hydrogenated blockcopolymer of an alkenyl aromatic compound and a conjugated diene,wherein the hydrogenated block copolymer has an alkenyl aromatic contentof about 40 to about 90 weight percent; a polyolefin-graft-cyclicanhydride copolymer; and a reinforcing filler.

[0014] Another embodiment of the invention is a composition, comprising:a poly(arylene ether); a poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin; a polyolefin; ahydrogenated block copolymer of alkenyl aromatic compound and aconjugated diene, wherein the hydrogenated block copolymer has analkenyl aromatic content of about 40 to about 90 weight percent; anunhydrogenated block copolymer of alkenyl aromatic compound and aconjugated diene; and a reinforcing filler.

[0015] Other embodiments, including articles comprising reactionproducts of the above compositions, are described below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] A thermoplastic composition having an excellent balance ofstiffness and impact strength, as well as reduced property variability,comprises: a poly(arylene ether); a poly (alkenyl aromatic) resin in anamount of at least about 10 weight percent of the total of thepoly(arylene ether) and the poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin; a polyolefin;a hydrogenated block copolymer of an alkenyl aromatic compound and aconjugated diene, wherein the hydrogenated block copolymer has analkenyl aromatic content of about 40 to about 90 weight percent; apolyolefin-graft-cyclic anhydride copolymer; and a reinforcing filler.

[0017] The present inventors have surprisingly discovered that theircompositions provide a beneficial and previously unattainable propertybalance. The compositions also provide a substantial reduction inproperty variability compared to known compositions. Other embodiments,including articles comprising the composition, are described below.

[0018] The composition may comprise any poly(arylene ether). The termpoly(arylene ether) includes polyphenylene ether (PPE) and poly(aryleneether) copolymers; graft copolymers; poly(arylene ether) ether ionomers;and block copolymers of alkenyl aromatic compounds, vinyl aromaticcompounds, and poly(arylene ether), and the like; and combinationscomprising at least one of the foregoing; and the like. Poly(aryleneether)s are known polymers comprising a plurality of structural units ofthe formula

[0019] wherein for each structural unit, each Q¹ is independentlyhalogen, primary or secondary C₁-C₈ alkyl, phenyl, C₁-C₈ haloalkyl,C₁-C₈ aminoalkyl, C₁-C₈ hydrocarbonoxy, or C₂-C₈ halohydrocarbonoxywherein at least two carbon atoms separate the halogen and oxygen atoms;and each Q² is independently hydrogen, halogen, primary or secondaryC₁-C₈ alkyl, phenyl, C₁-C₈ haloalkyl, C₁-C₈ aminoalkyl, C₁-C₈hydrocarbonoxy, or C₂-C₈ halohydrocarbonoxy wherein at least two carbonatoms separate the halogen and oxygen atoms. Preferably, each Q¹ isalkyl or phenyl, especially C₁₋₄ alkyl, and each Q² is independentlyhydrogen or methyl.

[0020] Both homopolymer and copolymer poly(arylene ether)s are included.The preferred homopolymers are those comprising 2,6-dimethylphenyleneether units. Suitable copolymers include random copolymers comprising,for example, such units in combination with2,3,6-trimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether units or copolymers derived fromcopolymerization of 2,6-dimethylphenol with 2,3,6-trimethylphenol. Alsoincluded are poly (arylene ether)s containing moieties prepared bygrafting vinyl monomers or polymers such as polystyrenes, as well ascoupled poly(arylene ether) in which coupling agents such as lowmolecular weight polycarbonates, quinones, heterocycles and formalsundergo reaction in known manner with the hydroxy groups of twopoly(arylene ether) chains to produce a higher molecular weight polymer.Poly(arylene ether)s of the present invention further includecombinations of any of the above.

[0021] The poly(arylene ether) generally has a number average molecularweight of about 3,000 to about 40,000 atomic mass units (AMU) and aweight average molecular weight of about 20,000 to about 80,000 AMU, asdetermined by gel permeation chromatography. The poly (arylene ether)generally may have an intrinsic viscosity of about 0.2 to about 0.6deciliters per gram (dL/g) as measured in chloroform at 25° C. Withinthis range, the intrinsic viscosity may preferably be up to about 0.5dL/g, more preferably up to about 0.47 dL/g. Also within this range, theintrinsic viscosity may preferably be at least about 0.3 dL/g. It isalso possible to utilize a high intrinsic viscosity poly(arylene ether)and a low intrinsic viscosity poly(arylene ether) in combination.Determining an exact ratio, when two intrinsic viscosities are used,will depend on the exact intrinsic viscosities of the poly(aryleneether)s used and the ultimate physical properties desired.

[0022] The poly(arylene ether)s are typically prepared by the oxidativecoupling of at least one monohydroxyaromatic compound such as2,6-xylenol or 2,3,6-trimethylphenol. Catalyst systems are generallyemployed for such coupling; they typically contain at least one heavymetal compound such as a copper, manganese or cobalt compound, usuallyin combination with various other materials.

[0023] Particularly useful poly(arylene ether)s for many purposesinclude those that comprise molecules having at least oneaminoalkyl-containing end group. The aminoalkyl radical is typicallylocated in an ortho position relative to the hydroxy group. Productscontaining such end groups may be obtained by incorporating anappropriate primary or secondary monoamine such as di-n-butylamine ordimethylamine as one of the constituents of the oxidative couplingreaction mixture. Also frequently present are 4-hydroxybiphenyl endgroups, typically obtained from reaction mixtures in which a by-productdiphenoquinone is present, especially in a copper-halide-secondary ortertiary amine system. A substantial proportion of the polymermolecules, typically constituting as much as about 90% by weight of thepolymer, may contain at least one of the aminoalkyl-containing and4-hydroxybiphenyl end groups.

[0024] The composition may comprise poly(arylene ether) in an amount ofabout 10 to about 55 weight percent, based on the total weight of thecomposition. Within this range, it may be preferred to use thepoly(arylene ether) in an amount of at least about 15 weight percent,more preferably at least about 18 weight percent. It may also bepreferred to use the poly (arylene ether) in an amount of up to about 55weight percent, more preferably up to about 50 weight percent.

[0025] The composition further comprises a poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin.The term “poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin” as used herein includes polymersprepared by methods known in the art including bulk, suspension, andemulsion polymerization, which contain at least 25% by weight ofstructural units derived from an alkenyl aromatic monomer of the formula

[0026] wherein R¹ is hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, halogen, or the like; Z isvinyl, halogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, or the like; and p is 0 to 5. Preferredalkenyl aromatic monomers include styrene, chlorostyrene, andvinyltoluene. The poly(alkenyl aromatic) resins include homopolymers ofan alkenyl aromatic monomer; random copolymers of an alkenyl aromaticmonomer, such as styrene, with one or more different monomers such asacrylonitrile, butadiene, alpha-methylstyrene, ethylvinylbenzene,divinylbenzene and maleic anhydride; and rubber-modified poly(alkenylaromatic) resins comprising blends and/or grafts of a rubber modifierand a homopolymer of an alkenyl aromatic monomer (as described above),wherein the rubber modifier may be a polymerization product of at leastone C₄-C₁₀ nonaromatic diene monomer, such as butadiene or isoprene. Therubber-modified poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin may comprise about 98 toabout 70 weight percent of the homopolymer of an alkenyl aromaticmonomer and about 2 to about 30 weight percent of the rubber modifier.Within these ranges it may be preferred to use at least 88 weightpercent of the alkenyl aromatic monomer. It may also be preferred to useup to about 94 weight percent of the alkenyl aromatic monomer. It mayalso be preferred to use at least 6 weight percent of the rubbermodifier. It may also be preferred to use up to 12 weight percent of therubber modifier.

[0027] The stereoregularity of the poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin may beatactic or syndiotactic. Highly preferred poly(alkenyl aromatic) resinsinclude atactic and syndiotactic homopolystyrenes. Suitable atactichomopolystyrenes are commercially available as, for example, EB3300 fromChevron, and P1800 from BASF. Suitable syndiotactic homopolystyrenes arecommercially available, for example, under the tradename QUESTRA® (e.g.,QUESTRA® WA550) from Dow Chemical Company. Highly preferred poly(alkenylaromatic) resins further include the rubber-modified polystyrenes, alsoknown as high-impact polystyrenes or HIPS, comprising about 88 to about94 weight percent polystyrene and about 6 to about 12 weight percentpolybutadiene, with an effective gel content of about 10% to about 35%.These rubber-modified polystyrenes are commercially available as, forexample, GEH 1897 from General Electric Plastics, and BA 5350 fromChevron.

[0028] The composition may comprise the poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin inan amount of about 1 to about 50 weight percent, preferably about 3 toabout 50 weight percent, based on the total weight of the composition.

[0029] In one embodiment, the amount of poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin maybe expressed as a fraction of the total of poly(arylene ether) andpoly(alkenyl aromatic) resin. The composition may preferably comprisepoly(alkenyl aromatic) resin in an amount of about 10 to about 80 weightpercent, based on the combined weight of poly(arylene ether) andpoly(alkenyl aromatic) resin. Within this range, it may be preferred touse a poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin amount up to about 70 weight percent,more preferably up to about 65 weight percent. Also within this range,it may be preferred to use a poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin amount of atleast about 20 weight percent, more preferably at least about 30 weightpercent. When the amount of poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin is less thanabout 10 weight percent of the total of the poly(arylene ether) andpoly(alkenyl aromatic) resin, the composition after molding may bedeficient in flexural modulus. When the amount of poly(alkenyl aromatic)resin is greater than about 80 weight percent of the total of thepoly(arylene ether) and poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin, the compositionafter molding may be deficient in heat distortion temperature. Theproportions of poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin and poly(arylene ether) maybe manipulated to control the glass transition temperature (T_(g)) ofthe single phase comprising these two components relative to the T_(g)of the poly(arylene ether) alone, or relative to the melting temperature(T_(m)) of the polyolefin alone. For example, the relative amounts ofpoly(alkenyl aromatic) resin and poly(arylene ether) may be chosen sothat the poly(arylene ether) and the poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin form asingle phase having a glass transition temperature at least about 20° C.greater, preferably at least about 30° C. greater, than the glasstransition temperature of the poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin alone, whichmay be, for example, about 100° C. to about 110° C. Also, the relativeamounts of poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin and poly(arylene ether) may bechosen so that the poly(arylene ether) and the poly (alkenyl aromatic)resin are present in a single phase having a glass transitiontemperature up to about 15° C. greater, preferably up to about 10° C.greater, more preferably up to about 1° C. greater, than the T_(m) ofthe polyolefin alone. The relative amounts of poly (alkenyl aromatic)resin and poly(arylene ether) may be chosen so that the poly(aryleneether) and the poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin are present in a singlephase having a glass transition temperature of about 130° C. to about180° C.

[0030] The composition further comprises a polyolefin. The polyolefinmay be a homopolymer or copolymer having at least about 80 weightpercent of units derived from polymerization of ethylene, propylene,butylene, or a mixture thereof. Examples of polyolefin homopolymersinclude polyethylene, polypropylene, and polybutylene. Examples ofpolyolefin copolymers include random, graft, and block copolymers ofethylene, propylene, and butylene with each other, and furthercomprising up to 20 weight percent of units derived from C₅-C₁₀ alphaolefins (excluding aromatic alpha-olefins). Polyolefins further includeblends of the above homopolymers and copolymers. Preferred polyolefinsmay have a flexural modulus of at least about 100,000 pounds per squareinch (psi) at 23° C. as measured according to ASTM D790. Suitablepolyolefins may comprise, for example, the linear low densitypolyethylene available from ExxonMobil as LL-6201, the low densitypolyethylene available from ExxonMobil as LMA-027, the high densitypolyethylene available from ExxonMobil as HD-6605, the ultra-highmolecular weight polyethylene available as Type 1900 from MontellPolyolefins, and the polybutylene (polybutene-1) available as PB0110from Montell Polyolefins.

[0031] Presently preferred polyolefins include propylene polymers. Thepropylene polymer may be a homopolymer of polypropylene. Alternatively,the propylene polymer may be a random, graft, or block copolymer ofpropylene and at least one olefin selected from ethylene and C₄-C₁₀alpha-olefins (excluding aromatic alpha-olefins), with the proviso thatthe copolymer comprises at least about 80 weight percent, preferably atleast about 90 weight percent, of repeating units derived frompropylene. Blends of such propylene polymers with a minor amount ofanother polymer such as polyethylene are also included within the scopeof propylene polymers. The propylene polymer may have a melt flow indexof about 0.1 to about 50 g/10 min, preferably about 1 to about 30 g/10min when measured according to ASTM D1238 at 2.16 kg and 200° C. Theabove-described propylene polymers can be produced by various knownprocesses. Commercially available propylene polymers may also beemployed.

[0032] Preferred propylene polymers include homopolypropylenes. Highlypreferred propylene polymers include homopolypropylenes having acrystalline content of at least about 20%, preferably at least about30%. Suitable isotactic polypropylenes are commercially available as,for example, PD403 pellets from Basell (formerly Montell Polyolefins ofNorth America).

[0033] The composition may comprise polyolefin in an amount of about 10to about 60 weight percent, based on the total weight of thecomposition. Within this range, a polyolefin amount of at least about 15weight percent may be preferred. Also within this range, a polyolefinamount of up to about 50 weight percent may be preferred, and an amountof up to about 40 weight percent may be more preferred.

[0034] The composition comprises a hydrogenated alkenyl aromaticcompound/conjugated diene block copolymer having an alkenyl aromaticcontent of about 40 to about 90 weight percent (hereinafter referred toas the “hydrogenated block copolymer”). The hydrogenated block copolymeris a copolymer comprising (A) at least one block derived from an alkenylaromatic compound and (B) at least one block derived from a conjugateddiene, in which the aliphatic unsaturated group content in the block (B)is reduced by hydrogenation. The arrangement of blocks (A) and (B)includes a linear structure, a grafted structure, and a radial teleblockstructure having a branched chain.

[0035] Preferred among these structures are linear structures embracingdiblock (A-B block), triblock (A-B-A block or B-A-B block), tetrablock(A-B-A-B block), and pentablock (A-B-A-B-A block or B-A-B-A-B block)structures as well as linear structures containing 6 or more blocks intotal of A and B. More preferred are diblock, triblock, and tetrablockstructures, with the A-B-A triblock structure being particularlypreferred.

[0036] The alkenyl aromatic compound providing the block (A) isrepresented by formula

[0037] wherein R² and R³ each independently represent a hydrogen atom, aC₁-C₈ alkyl group, a C₂-C₈ alkenyl group, or the like; R⁴ and R⁸ eachindependently represent a hydrogen atom, a C₁-C₈ alkyl group, a chlorineatom, a bromine atom, or the like; and R⁵-R⁷ each independentlyrepresent a hydrogen atom, a C₁-C₈ alkyl group, a C₂-C₈ alkenyl group,or the like, or R⁴ and R⁵ are taken together with the central aromaticring to form a naphthyl group, or R⁵ and R⁶ are taken together with thecentral aromatic ring to form a naphthyl group.

[0038] Specific examples, of the alkenyl aromatic compounds includestyrene, p-methylstyrene, alpha-methylstyrene, vinylxylenes,vinyltoluenes, vinylnaphthalenes, divinylbenzenes, bromostyrenes,chlorostyrenes, and the like, and combinations comprising at least oneof the foregoing alkenyl aromatic compounds. Of these, styrene,alpha-methylstyrene, p-methylstyrene, vinyltoluenes, and vinylxylenesare preferred, with styrene being more preferred.

[0039] Specific examples of the conjugated diene include 1,3-butadiene,2-methyl-1,3-butadiene, 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene, 1,3-pentadiene, andthe like. Preferred among them are 1,3-butadiene and2-methyl-1,3-butadiene, with 1 ,3-butadiene being more preferred.

[0040] In addition to the conjugated diene, the hydrogenated blockcopolymer may contain a small proportion of a lower olefinic hydrocarbonsuch as, for example, ethylene, propylene, 1-butene, dicyclopentadiene,a non-conjugated diene, or the like.

[0041] The content of the repeating unit derived from the alkenylaromatic compound in the hydrogenated block copolymer may be about 40 toabout 90 weight percent, based on the total weight of the hydrogenatedblock copolymer, with the lower limit of the alkenyl aromatic compoundcontent preferably being about 50 weight percent, more preferably about55 weight percent, and with the upper limit of the alkenyl aromaticcompound content preferably being up to about 85 weight percent, morepreferably up to about 75 weight percent, yet more preferably up toabout 70 weight percent.

[0042] There is no particular limitation on the mode of incorporation ofthe conjugated diene in the hydrogenated block copolymer backbone. Forexample, when the conjugated diene is 1,3-butadiene, it may beincorporated with about 1% to about 99% 1,2-incorporation, with theremainder being 1,4-incorporation.

[0043] The hydrogenated block copolymer is preferably hydrogenated tosuch a degree that fewer than 50%, more preferably fewer than 20%, yetmore preferably fewer than 10%, of the unsaturated bonds in thealiphatic chain moiety derived from the conjugated diene remainunreduced. The aromatic unsaturated bonds derived from the alkenylaromatic compound may be hydrogenated to a degree of up to about 25%.

[0044] The hydrogenated block copolymer preferably has a number averagemolecular weight of about 5,000 to about 500,000 AMU, as determined bygel permeation chromatography (GPC) using polystyrene standards. Withinthis range, the number average molecular weight is preferably at leastabout 10,000 AMU, more preferably at least about 30,000 AMU, yet morepreferably at least about 45,000 AMU. Also within this range, the numberaverage molecular weight is preferably up to about 300,000 AMU, morepreferably up to about 200,000 AMU, yet more preferably up to about150,000 AMU.

[0045] The molecular weight distribution of the hydrogenated blockcopolymer as measured by GPC is not particularly limited. The copolymermay have any ratio of weight average molecular weight to number averagemolecular weight.

[0046] Some of these hydrogenated block copolymers have a hydrogenatedconjugated diene polymer chain to which crystallinity is ascribed.Crystallinity of the hydrogenated block copolymer can be determined bythe use of a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), for example,DSC-II Model manufactured by Perkin-Elmer Co. Heat of fusion can bemeasured by a heating rate of, for example, 10° C./min in an inert gasatmosphere such as nitrogen. For example, a sample may be heated to atemperature above an estimated melting point, cooled by decreasing thetemperature at a rate of 10° C./min, allowed to stand for about 1minute, and then heated again at a rate of 10° C./min.

[0047] The hydrogenated block copolymer may have any degree ofcrystallinity. In view of a balance of mechanical strength of theresulting resin composition, those hydrogenated block copolymers havinga melting point of about −40° C. to about 160° C. or having no definitemelting point (i.e., having non-crystallinity), as measured according tothe above-described technique, are preferred. Within the melting pointrange of about −40° C. to about 160° C., it may be preferred to use ahydrogenated block copolymer having a melting point of at least about−20° C., more preferably at least about 0° C., yet more preferably atleast about 20° C., still more preferably at least about 40° C. Alsowithin this range, it may be preferred to use a hydrogenated blockcopolymer having a melting point of up to about 140° C., more preferablyup to about 110° C., yet more preferably up to about 100° C.

[0048] The hydrogenated block copolymer may have any glass transitiontemperature (T_(g)) ascribed to the hydrogenated conjugated dienepolymer chain. From the standpoint of low-temperature impact strength ofthe resulting resin composition, it preferably has a T_(g) of up toabout −60° C., more preferably up to about −120° C. The glass transitiontemperature of the copolymer can be measured by the aforesaid DSC methodor from the visco-elastic behavior toward temperature change as observedwith a mechanical spectrometer.

[0049] Particularly preferred hydrogenated block copolymers are thestyrene-(ethylene-butylene) diblock andstyrene-(ethylene-butylene)-styrene triblock copolymers obtained byhydrogenation of styrene-butadiene and styrene-butadiene-styrenetriblock copolymers, respectively.

[0050] The hydrogenated block copolymer may be synthesized by blockpolymerization followed by hydrogenation as described, for example, inU.S. Pat. No. 4,863,997 to Shibuya et al. Suitable hydrogenated blockcopolymers include the styrene-(ethylene-butylene) diblock andstyrene-(ethylene-butylene)-styrene triblock copolymers commerciallyavailable as, for example, TUFTEC® H1043 sold by Asahi Chemical.

[0051] The composition may comprise the hydrogenated block copolymer inan amount of about 1 to about 20 weight percent, preferably about 1 toabout 15 weight percent, more preferably about 1 to about 10 weightpercent, based on the total weight of the composition.

[0052] The composition further comprises a reinforcing filler.Reinforcing fillers may include, for example, inorganic and organicmaterials, such as fibers, woven fabrics and non-woven fabrics of theE-, NE-, S-, T- and D-type glasses and quartz; carbon fibers, includingpoly (acrylonitrile) (PAN) fibers, vapor-grown carbon fibers, andespecially graphitic vapor-grown carbon fibers having an averagediameter of about 3 to about 500 nanometers (see, for example, U.S. Pat.Nos. 4,565,684 and 5,024,818to Tibbetts et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,572,813to Arakawa; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,663,230 and 5,165,909 to Tennent, U.S. Pat.No. 4,816,289 to Komatsu et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,876,078 to Arakawa etal., U.S. Pat. No. 5,589,152 to Tennent et al., and U.S. Pat. No.5,591,382 to Nahass et al.); potassium titanate single-crystal fibers,silicon carbide fibers, boron carbide fibers, gypsum fibers, aluminumoxide fibers, asbestos, iron fibers, nickel fibers, copper fibers,wollastonite fibers;

[0053] and the like. The reinforcing fillers may be in the form of glassroving cloth, glass cloth, chopped glass, hollow glass fibers, glassmat, glass surfacing mat, and non-woven glass fabric, ceramic fiberfabrics, and metallic fiber fabrics. In addition, synthetic organicreinforcing fillers may also be used including organic polymers capableof forming fibers. Illustrative examples of such reinforcing organicfibers are poly(ether ketone), polyimide benzoxazole, poly(phenylenesulfide), polyesters, aromatic polyamides, aromatic polyimides orpolyetherimides, acrylic resins, and poly(vinyl alcohol). Fluoropolymerssuch as polytetrafluoroethylene, may be used. Also included are naturalorganic fibers known to one skilled in the art, including cotton cloth,hemp cloth, and felt, carbon fiber fabrics, and natural cellulosicfabrics such as Kraft paper, cotton paper, and glass fiber containingpaper. Such reinforcing fillers could be in the form of monofilament ormultifilament fibers and could be used either alone or in combinationwith another type of fiber, through, for example, coweaving orcore-sheath, side-by-side, orange-type or matrix and fibrilconstructions or by other methods known to one skilled in the art offiber manufacture. They may be in the form of, for example, wovenfibrous reinforcements, non-woven fibrous reinforcements, or papers.

[0054] Preferred reinforcing fillers include glass fibers. Preferredglass fibers may have diameters of about 2 to about 25 micrometers, morepreferably about 10 to about 20 micrometers, yet more preferably about13 to about 18micrometers. The length of the glass fibers may be about0.1 to about 20 millimeters, more preferably about 1 to about 10millimeters, yet more preferably about 2 to about 8 millimeters. Longerglass fibers may also be used, as, for example, in so-called in-linecompounding for long fiber filled parts in a one-step process without apelletization step. Equipment for such in-line compounding iscommercially available as, for example, the Husky 3000 kiloNewton (330ton) molding machine from Husky, Ontario, Canada. Use of long fibercomposites for injection molding is also described in U.S. Pat. No.4,559,262 to Cogswell et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,258,453 B1 toMontsinger. Glass fibers comprising a sizing to increase theircompatibility with the polyolefin or the poly(arylene ether) areparticularly preferred. Suitable sizings are described, for example, inU.S. Pat. No. 5,998,029 to Adzima et al. Suitable glass fibers arecommercially available as, for example, product numbers 147A-14P (14micrometer diameter) and 147A-17P (17 micrometer diameter) from OwensCorning.

[0055] Preferred reinforcing fillers further include talc. There are noparticular limitations on the physical characteristics of the talc.Preferred talcs may have an average particle size of about 0.5 to about25 micrometers. Within this range, it may be preferred to use a talchaving an average particle size up to about 10 micrometers, morepreferably up to about 5 micrometers. For some uses of the composition,it may be preferred to employ a talc that is F.D.A. compliant (i.e.,compliant with U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations). Suitabletalcs include, for example, the F.D.A. compliant talc having an averageparticle size of about 3.2 micrometers sold as CIMPACT® 610(C) fromLuzenac.

[0056] The compatibility of the reinforcing filler and the polyolefinmay be improved not just with sizings on the surface of the reinforcingfillers, but also by adding to the composition a graft copolymercomprising a polyolefin backbone and polar grafts formed from one ormore cyclic anhydrides. Such materials include graft copolymers ofpolyolefins (as defined above for the polyolefin component of thecomposition) and C₄-C₁₂ cyclic anhydrides, such as, for example, thoseavailable from ExxonMobil under the tradename EXXELOR® and from DuPontunder the tradename FUSABOND®. Examples of suitablepolyolefin-graft-cyclic anhydride copolymers are thepolypropylene-graft-maleic anhydride materials supplied by ExxonMobil asEXXELOR® PO1020 and by DuPont as FUSABOND® M613-05. Suitable amounts ofsuch materials may be readily determined and are generally about 0.1 toabout 10 weight percent, based on the total weight of the composition.Within this range, a polyolefin-graft-cyclic anhydride copolymer amountof at least about 0.5 weight percent may be preferred. Also within thisrange, a polyolefin-graft-cyclic anhydride copolymer amount of up toabout 5 weight percent may be preferred.

[0057] Preferred reinforcing fillers further include organoclays. Asused herein, an organoclay is a layered silicate clay, derived fromlayered minerals, in which organic structures have been chemicallyincorporated. Illustrative examples of organic structures aretrimethyldodecylammonium ion and N,N′-didodecylimidazolium ion. Sincethe surfaces of clay layers, which have a lattice-like arrangement, areelectrically charged, they are capable of binding organic ions. There isno limitation with respect to the layered minerals employed in thisinvention other than that they are capable of undergoing an ion exchangewith the organic ions. Preferred organoclays include layered mineralsthat have undergone cation exchange with organocations and/or oniumcompounds. Illustrative of such layered minerals are the kaolinitegroup, the montmorillonite group, and the illite group which can includehydromicas, phengite, brammallite, glaucomite, celadonite and the like.Preferred layered minerals include those often referred to as 2:1layered silicate minerals like muscovite, vermiculite, saponite,hectorite and montmorillonite, wherein montmorillonite is oftenpreferred. The layered minerals described above may be syntheticallyproduced. However, most often they are naturally occurring andcommercially available. Organoclays and their preparation are described,for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,569,923, 4,664,842, 5,110,501, and5,160,454 to Knudson, Jr. et al.; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,530,052 and 5,773,502to Takekoshi et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,780,376 to Gonzales et al.; U.S.Pat. No. 6,036,765 to Farrow et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,228,903 B1 to Beallet al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,262,1 62 B1 to Lan et al.

[0058] The composition comprises the reinforcing filler in an amount ofabout 1 to about 50 weight percent, preferably about 5 to about 50weight percent, based on the total weight of the composition. When thereinforcing filler is an organoclay, it may be preferred to use it in anamount of at least about 5 weight percent, more preferably at leastabout 10 weight percent. Also when the reinforcing filler is anorganoclay, it may be preferred to use it in an amount of up to about 45weight percent, more preferably up to about 50 weight percent.

[0059] The composition may, optionally, further comprise apolypropylene-polystyrene graft copolymer. The polypropylene-polystyrenegraft copolymer is herein defined as a graft copolymer having apropylene polymer backbone and one or more styrene polymer grafts.

[0060] The propylene polymer material that forms the backbone orsubstrate of the polypropylene-polystyrene graft copolymer is (a) ahomopolymer of propylene; (b) a random copolymer of propylene and anolefin selected from the group consisting of ethylene and C₄-C₁₀olefins, provided that, when the olefin is ethylene, the polymerizedethylene content is up to about 10 weight percent, preferably up toabout 4 weight percent, and when the olefin is a C₄-C₁₀ olefin, thepolymerized content of the C₄-C₁₀ olefin is up to about 20 weightpercent, preferably up to about 16 weight percent; (c) a randomterpolymer of propylene and at least two olefins selected from the groupconsisting of ethylene and C₁-C₁₀ alpha-olefins, provided that thepolymerized C₄-C₁₀ alpha-olefin content is up to about 20 weightpercent, preferably up to about 16 weight percent, and, when ethylene isone of the olefins, the polymerized ethylene content is up to about 5weight percent, preferably up to about 4 weight percent; or (d) ahomopolymer or random copolymer of propylene which is impact-modifiedwith an ethylene-propylene monomer rubber in the reactor as well as byphysical blending, the ethylene-propylene monomer rubber content of themodified polymer being about 5 to about 30 weight percent, and theethylene content of the rubber being about 7 to about 70 weight percent,and preferably about 10 to about 40 weight percent. The C₄-C₁₀ olefinsinclude the linear and branched C₄-C₁₀ alpha-olefins such as, forexample, 1-butene, 1-pentene, 3-methyl-1-butene, 4-methyl-1-pentene,1-hexene, 3,4-dimethyl-1-butene, 1-heptene, 1-octene, 3-methyl-hexene,and the like. Propylene homopolymers and impact-modified propylenehomopolymers are preferred propylene polymer materials. Although notpreferred, propylene homopolymers and random copolymers impact modifiedwith an ethylene-propylene-diene monomer rubber having a diene contentof about 2 to about 8 weight percent also can be used as the propylenepolymer material. Suitable dienes include dicyclopentadiene,1,6-hexadiene, ethylidene norbornene, and the like.

[0061] The term “styrene polymer”, used in reference to the graftedpolymer present on the backbone of propylene polymer material in thepolypropylene-polystyrene graft copolymer, denotes (a) homopolymers ofstyrene or of an alkyl styrene having at least one C₁-C₄ linear orbranched alkyl ring substituent, especially a p-alkyl styrene; (b)copolymers of the (a) monomers with one another in all proportions; and(c) copolymers of at least one (a) monomer with alpha-methyl derivativesthereof, e.g., alpha-methylstyrene, wherein the alpha-methyl derivativeconstitutes about 1 to about 40% of the weight of the copolymer.

[0062] The polypropylene-polystyrene graft copolymer will typicallycomprise about 10 to about 90 weight percent of the propylene polymerbackbone and about 90 to about 10 weight percent of the styrene polymergraft. Within these ranges, the propylene polymer backbone maypreferably account for at least about 20 weight percent, of the totalgraft copolymer; and the propylene polymer backbone may preferablyaccount for up to about 40 weight percent of the total graft copolymer.Also within these ranges, the styrene polymer graft may preferablyaccount for at least about 50 weight percent, more preferably at leastabout 60 weight percent of the total graft copolymer.

[0063] The preparation of polypropylene-polystyrene graft copolymers isdescribed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,990,558 to DeNicola, Jr. etal. Suitable polypropylene-polystyrene graft copolymers are alsocommercially available as, for example, P1045H1 and P1085H1 from Basell.

[0064] When present, the polypropylene-polystyrene graft copolymer maybe used in an amount of about 0.5 to about 20 weight percent, based onthe total weight of the composition. Within this range, it may bepreferred to use at least about 1.0 weight percent of thepolypropylene-polystyrene graft copolymer. Also within this range, itmay also be preferred to use up to about 15 weight percent, morepreferably up to about 10 weight percent, yet more preferably up toabout 8 weight percent, of the polypropylene-polystyrene graftcopolymer.

[0065] The composition may, optionally, further comprise anethylene/alpha-olefin elastomeric copolymer. The alpha-olefin componentof the copolymer may be at least one C₃-C₁₀ alpha-olefin. Preferredalpha-olefins include propylene, 1-butene, and 1-octene. The elastomericcopolymer may be a random copolymer having about 25 to about 75 weightpercent ethylene and about 75 to about 25 weight percent alpha-olefin.Within these ranges, it may be preferred to use at least about 40 weightpercent ethylene; and it may be preferred to use up to about 60 weightpercent ethylene. Also within these ranges, it may be preferred to useat least about 40 weight percent alpha-olefin; and it may be preferredto use up to about 60 weight percent alpha-olefin. Theethylene/alpha-olefin elastomeric copolymer may typically have a meltflow index of about 0.1 to about 20 g/10 min at 2.16 kg and 200° C., anda density of about 0.8 to about 0.9 g/ml.

[0066] Particularly preferred ethylene/alpha-olefin elastomericcopolymer rubbers include ethylene-propylene rubbers, ethylene-butylenerubbers, ethylene-octene rubbers, and mixtures thereof.

[0067] The ethylene/alpha-olefin elastomeric copolymer may be preparedaccording to known methods or obtained commercially as, for example, theneat ethylene-propylene rubber sold as VISTALON® 878 by ExxonMobilChemical and the ethylene-butylene rubber sold as EXACT® 4033 byExxonMobil Chemical. Ethylene/alpha-olefin elastomeric copolymers mayalso be obtained commercially as blends in polyolefins such as, forexample, the ethylene-propylene rubber pre-dispersed in polypropylenesold as product numbers Profax 7624 and Profax 8623 from Basell, and theethylene-butylene rubber pre-dispersed in polypropylene sold as CatalioyK021P from Basell.

[0068] When present, the ethylene/alpha-olefin elastomeric copolymer maybe used in an amount of about 0.5 to about 25 weight percent, based onthe total weight of the composition. Within this range, it may bepreferred to use at least about 1 weight percent, more preferably atleast about 3 weight percent, of the ethylene/alpha-olefin elastomericcopolymer. Also within this range, it may be preferred to use up toabout 20 weight percent, more preferably up to about 15 weight percent,of the ethylene/alpha-olefin elastomeric copolymer.

[0069] Alternatively, the amount of ethylene/alpha-olefin elastomericcopolymer may be expressed as a fraction of the total of polyolefin andethylene/alpha-olefin elastomeric copolymer. Thus, when theethylene/alpha-olefin elastomeric copolymer is present, its amount maybe expressed as about 1 to about 30 weight percent, preferably about 3to about 30 weight percent, based on the combined weight of polyolefinand ethylene/alpha-olefin elastomeric copolymer.

[0070] The composition may, optionally, further comprise anunhydrogenated block copolymer of alkenyl aromatic compound and aconjugated diene (referred to hereinafter as an “unhydrogenated blockcopolymer”). The unhydrogenated block copolymer is a copolymercomprising (A) at least one block derived from an alkenyl aromaticcompound and (B) at least one block derived from a conjugated diene, inwhich the aliphatic unsaturated group content in the block (B) has notbeen reduced by hydrogenation. The alkenyl aromatic compound (A) and theconjugated diene (B) are defined in detail above in the description ofthe hydrogenated block copolymer. The arrangement of blocks (A) and (B)includes a linear structure and a so-called radial teleblock structurehaving a branched chain.

[0071] Preferred of these structures are linear structures embracingdiblock (A-B block), triblock (A-B-A block or B-A-B block), tetrablock(A-B-A-B block), and pentablock (A-B-A-B-A block or B-A-B-A-B block)structures as well as linear structures containing 6 or more blocks intotal of A and B. More preferred are diblock, triblock, and tetrablockstructures, with the A-B-A triblock structure being particularlypreferred.

[0072] The unhydrogenated block copolymer may comprise about 10 to about90 weight percent of the (A) blocks. Within this range, it may bepreferred to use at least about 20 weight percent (A) blocks. Alsowithin this range, it may be preferred to use up to about 50 percent (A)blocks.

[0073] Particularly preferred unhydrogenated block copolymers includestyrene-butadiene diblock copolymers and styrene-butadiene-styrenetriblock copolymers.

[0074] Suitable unhydrogenated block copolymers may be prepared by knownmethods or obtained commercially as, for example, KRATON® D seriespolymers, including KRATON® D1101 and D1102, from Kraton Polymers(formerly a division of Shell Chemical). Suitable unhydrogenated blockcopolymers further include the styrene-butadiene radial teleblockcopolymers available as, for example, K-RESIN® KR01, KR03, KR05, andKR10 sold by Chevron Phillips Chemical Company.

[0075] When present, the unhydrogenated block copolymers may be used atabout 0.5 to about 20 weight percent, based on the total weight of thecomposition. Within this range, it may be preferred to use at leastabout 1 weight percent, more preferably at least about 2 weight percent,of the unhydrogenated block copolymers. Also within this range, it maybe preferred to use up to about 15 weight percent, preferably up toabout 10 weight percent, of the unhydrogenated block copolymers.

[0076] The composition may, optionally, further comprise a hydrogenatedblock copolymer of an alkenyl aromatic compound and a conjugated diene,wherein the hydrogenated block copolymer has an alkenyl aromatic contentof about 10 to less than 40 weight percent. For this component, thealkenyl aromatic compound and the conjugated diene compound are the sameas those defined above for the hydrogenated block copolymer having analkenyl aromatic content of about 40 to about 90 weight percent. Suchmaterials are commercially available as, for example, KRATON® G1650 andG1652 from Kraton Polymers. When present, the hydrogenated blockcopolymer having an alkenyl aromatic content of about 10 to less than 40weight percent may be used at about 1 weight percent to about 20 weightpercent, based on the total weight of the composition.

[0077] In addition to the components described above, the compositionmay comprise one or more additives known in the art. Such additives mayinclude, for example, stabilizers, mold release agents, processing aids,flame retardants, drip retardants, nucleating agents, UV blockers, dyes,pigments, particulate fillers (i.e., fillers having an aspect ratio lessthan about 3), antioxidants, anti-static agents, blowing agents, and thelike. Such additives are well known in the art and appropriate amountsmay be readily determined.

[0078] In one embodiment, the composition comprises: a poly(aryleneether); a poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin; a polyolefin; a hydrogenatedblock copolymer of an alkenyl aromatic compound and a conjugated diene,wherein the hydrogenated block copolymer has an alkenyl aromatic contentof about 40 to about 90 weight percent; a polypropylene-polystyrenegraft copolymer or an unhydrogenated block copolymer of an alkenylaromatic compound and a conjugated diene; an a reinforcing filler.

[0079] In another embodiment, the composition comprises: about 10 toabout 55 weight percent of a poly(arylene ether); about 1 to about 50weight percent of a poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin; wherein the amount ofpoly(alkenyl aromatic) resin is at least about 10 weight percent of thetotal of the poly(arylene ether) and the poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin;about 10 to about 60 weight percent of a polyolefin; about 1 to about 20weight percent of a hydrogenated block copolymer of alkenyl aromaticcompound and a conjugated diene having an alkenyl aromatic content ofabout 40 to about 90 weight percent; about 0.1 to about 10 weightpercent of a polyolefin-graft-cyclic anhydride copolymer; and about 1 toabout 50 weight percent of a reinforcing filler; wherein all weightpercents are based on the total weight of the composition.

[0080] In another embodiment, the composition comprises: about 10 toabout 55 weight percent of a poly(arylene ether); about 1 to about 50weight percent of a poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin; about 10 to about 60weight percent of a polyolefin; about 1 to about 20 weight percent of ahydrogenated block copolymer of alkenyl aromatic compound and aconjugated diene having an alkenyl aromatic content of about 40 to about90 weight percent; about 0.5 to about 20 weight percent of apolypropylene-polystyrene graft copolymer or an unhydrogenated blockcopolymer of an alkenyl aromatic compound and a conjugated diene; andabout 1 to about 50 weight percent of a reinforcing filler; wherein allweight percents are based on the total weight of the composition.

[0081] In another embodiment, the thermoplastic composition comprises:about 10 to about 55 weight percent of a poly(arylene ether); about 1 toabout 50 weight percent of a poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin; about 10 toabout 60 weight percent of a polyolefin; about 1 to about 20 weightpercent of a hydrogenated block copolymer of alkenyl aromatic compoundand a conjugated diene having an alkenyl aromatic content of about 40 toabout 90 weight percent; about 1 to about 50 weight percent of areinforcing filler; about 0.5 to about 20 weight percent of apolypropylene-polystyrene graft copolymer or an unhydrogenated blockcopolymer of an alkenyl aromatic compound and a conjugated diene; andabout 0.5 to about 25 weight percent of an ethylene/alpha-olefinelastomeric copolymer; wherein all weight percents are based on thetotal weight of the composition.

[0082] In another embodiment, the thermoplastic composition comprisesthe reaction product of: a poly(arylene ether); a poly(alkenyl aromatic)resin in an amount of at least about 10 weight percent of the total ofthe poly(arylene ether) and the poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin; apolyolefin; a hydrogenated block copolymer of an alkenyl aromaticcompound and a conjugated diene, wherein the hydrogenated blockcopolymer has an alkenyl aromatic content of about 40 to about 90 weightpercent; a polyolefin-graft-cyclic anhydride copolymer; and areinforcing filler.

[0083] As the composition is defined as comprising multiple components,it will be understood that each component is chemically distinct,particularly in the instance that a single chemical compound may satisfythe definition of more than one component.

[0084] The preparation of the compositions of the present invention isnormally achieved by merely blending the ingredients under conditionsfor the formation of an intimate blend. Such conditions often includemixing in single- or twin-screw type extruders or similar mixing devicesthat can apply a shear to the components.

[0085] Preferred blending methods are described in detail in theco-filed application U.S. Ser. No. ______ [attorney docket number08CN06031-2], which is incorporated herein in its entirety. In apreferred embodiment, the components are blended in an extruder havingat least two addition ports, with at least about 50%, preferably atleast about 75%, more preferably all of the poly(arylene ether) addedupstream, and at least about 50%, preferably at least about 75%, yetmore preferably 100%, of the polyolefin added downstream, and at leastabout 50%, preferably at least about 75%, more preferably all, of theglass fibers added downstream. In another preferred embodiment, thecomponents are blended using at least two mixing stages, comprisingupstream mixing and downstream mixing, wherein the upstream mixing ishigh-energy mixing characterized by at least two mixing elements and/ora mixing section not less than about 1 inch in length. Downstream mixingmay be either high-energy mixing as described above or low-energymixing, depending on the composition and desired properties of thecomposition.

[0086] The composition is suitable for the formation of articles orcomponents of articles using a variety of molding techniques such as,for example, injection molding, blow molding, extrusion, sheetextrusion, film extrusion, profile extrusion, pultrusion, compressionmolding, thermoforming, pressure forming, hydroforming, vacuum forming,foam molding, and the like. When articles are formed from thecomposition using blow molding, density reductions as high as about 95%may be achieved.

[0087] The composition exhibits improved property balances. Inparticular, the composition exhibits an improved balance betweenstiffness and impact strength. For example the composition may exhibit aflexural modulus at 23° C., measured according to ASTM D790, of at leastabout 300, preferably at least about 350, kilopounds per square inch(kpsi). The composition may exhibit an Izod Notched Impact Strengthmeasured at 23° C. according to ASTM D256 of at least about 1 foot-poundper inch (ft-lb/in), preferably at least about 1.5 ft-lb/in, morepreferably at least about 2 ft-lb/in. The composition may exhibit a heatdistortion temperature (HDT), measured at 66 psi according to ASTM D648of at least about 280° F., preferably at least about 290° F., morepreferably at least about 300° F., and an HDT at 264 psi of at leastabout 200° F., preferably at least about 220° F., more preferably atleast about 240° F. The composition may exhibit a tensile elongation atbreak measured according to ASTM D638 of at least about 4%, preferablyat least about 5%, more preferably at least about 6%.

[0088] The composition may exhibit low variability in properties,whether from batch-to-batch, or from sample-to-sample for a given batch.Variability may be calculated in percentage form as 100 times aproperty's standard deviation divided by the property's mean. Thecomposition may exhibit sample-to-sample (i.e., within batch)variability in Flexural Modulus at 23° C. of less than about 10 percent,preferably less than about 5%, more preferably less than about 3%. Thecomposition may exhibit batch-to-batch variability in Izod NotchedImpact Strength measured at 23° C. according to ASTM D256 less thanabout 15%, preferably less than about 10%, more preferably less thanabout 5%.

[0089] The invention is further illustrated by the followingnon-limiting examples.

EXAMPLES 1-4, COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 1-10

[0090] Raw materials used in all example formulations are summarized inTable 1.

[0091] Components 1-11 were thoroughly hand mixed in a bag. Unlessotherwise specified, all component amounts are expressed in parts byweight. The contents of this bag were then fed through a feeder andentered the extruder at the throat (extruder initial entry point).Components 12-14 were then fed into the extruder downstream (entrypoints were located after the feed throat, approximately barrel 5 of10).

[0092] Specific formulations of examples and comparative examples aregiven in Table 2. Samples were extruded using a 30 mm co-rotating twinscrew extruder. Blends were melt extruded at 520° F., 450-500 rpm, and30-55 pounds per hour. Melt from the extruder was forced through a3-hole die to produce melt strands. These strands were rapidly cooled bypassing them through a cold water bath. The cooled strands were choppedinto pellets. Pellets were dried in the oven at 200° F. for 2-4 hours.

[0093] ASTM parts were molded on a 120 tonne molding machine(manufacturer: Van Dorn) at 100-120° F. mold temp and a 450-550° F.barrel temperature.

[0094] Parts were tested according to ASTM methods. Flexural modulus wasmeasured according to ASTM D790. Heat distortion temperatures (HDT) at64 and 264 psi were measured according to ASTM D648. Izod notched andunnotched impact strengths were measured according to ASTM D256. Dynatup(falling dart) total energy, energy to maximum load, and energy tofailure were measured according to ASTM D3763. Tensile elongation atbreak, tensile strength at break, and tensile strength at yield weremeasured according to ASTM D638. Where values of mean and standarddeviation are given for a property, they represent results for fivesamples.

[0095] Results are presented in Table 2. Compared to samples lackingglass fibers, samples containing glass fibers exhibit high flexuralmodulus and heat distortion temperature while maintaining good impactstrength. TABLE 1 No. Raw Material Grade Description Form Source 1 PPpellets PD403 isotactic propylene polymer, MFI (200 C./2.16 kg) = 1.5Pellets Montell Polyolefin Inc., North America (now BASELL) 2 EPRVISTALON ® Ethylene-propylene copolymer, Melt Index Pellets ExxonMobilChemical 878 (190 C./21.6 kg) = 6.5 g/10 mins, 3 PP-EPR, Profax 7624Polypropylene with ethylene-propylene rubber (EPR) Pellets MontellPolyolefin Inc. HECO-30 as heterophasic/pre-dispersed, EPR content = 30weight % 4 PP-g-PS Interloy PP with PS polymer graft which containsabout 45 pph pellets Montell Polyolefin Inc., P1045HI of total PP-g-PSNorth America (now BASELL) 5 PPE 0.4 IV poly(2,6-dimethylphenyleneether) Powder General Electric Company 6 xPS Chevron homopolystyrene,MFR (200 C., 5 kg) = 10.5 g/10 mins Pellets Huntsman Chemical EB3300 7HIPS GEH 1897 PS molecular weight of 230,000 g/mol, % butadiene PelletsGeneral Electric Company 10.3% of total HIPS 8 SBS KRATON ® containsabout 31% PS Pellets Shell Chemical company D1101 9 lo-S SEBS KRATON ®contains about 28% PS, Mwt = 77,000 g/mol Pellets Shell Chemical companyG1652 10 hi-S SEBS TUFTEC ® Contains about 66% PS Pellets AsahiChemical, H1043 distributed through Marubeni America Corporation 11PP-g-MA EXXELOR ® polypropylene with about 0.7 wt % poly(maleic PelletsExxonMobil PO1020 anhydride) grafts 12 Glass fibers-14 147A-14P Glassfibers, filament diameter = 14 micron, sized for Chopped Owens CorningPP matrix, average length = 4 mm fibers 13 Glass fibers-17 147A-17PGlass fibers, filament diameter = 17 micron, sized for Chopped OwensCorning PP matrix, average length = 4 mm fibers 14 Talc CIMPACT ® talc,average particle size = 3.2 microns, minimum Powder Luzenac 610 (C)Hegman fineness = 5.75, FDA compliant

[0096] TABLE 2 Ex. 1 Ex. 2 Ex. 3 Ex. 4 COMPOSITION PP-g-PS 10.00 10.004.33 4.63 hi-S SEBS 10.00 5.00 2.60 10.00 lo-S SEBS 0.00 0.00 2.60 0.00PPE 26.40 15.00 18.14 15.00 HIPS 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 xPS 6.60 22.5012.02 3.75 SBS 15.00 6.93 5.60 4.63 PP pellets 22.00 22.00 33.36 22.00EPR 0.00 8.57 0.00 0.00 Glass Fibers-14 10.00 10.00 21.36 40.00PROPERTIES Flexural Modulus (psi), mean 408,700 401,800 575,8001,199,000   Flex Modulus (psi), stddev  32,920  4,108  4,056  25,000Flex Modulus, rel. stddev 8.1 1.0 0.7 2.1 HDT, 66 psi (° F.) 295 289.8305.2 312.8 HDT, 264 psi (° F.) 257.8 219.8 268 286.7 Izod NotchedImpact 2.5 2.4 2.2 2.1 (ft-lb/in), mean Izod Notched Impact 0.3 0.1 0.1<0.05 (ft-lb/in), stddev Izod Notched Impact 12.0 4.2 4.5 <2.4(ft-lb/in), rel. stddev Tensile Elongation at Break 7.76 8.53 7.55 5.01(%) Comp. Comp. Comp. Comp. Comp. Ex. 1 Ex. 2 Ex. 3 Ex. 4 Ex. 5COMPOSITION PP-g-PS 0.00 10.00 0.00 0.00 10.00 hi-S SEBS 0.00 0.00 0.000.00 0.00 lo-S SEBS 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 PPE 60.00 20.00 45.00 60.0020.00 HIPS 0.00 50.00 35.00 0.00 50.00 xPS 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 SBS0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 PP pellets 42.00 22.00 22.00 36.00 22.00 EPR0.00 0.00 0.00 6.00 0.00 Glass Fibers-14 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00PROPERTIES Flexural Modulus (psi), 295,000 305,500 313,100 257,100299,600 mean Flex Modulus (psi),  2,825  3,501  6,527  4,623  2,761stddev Flex Modulus, rel. 0.96 1.15 2.08 1.80 0.92 stddev (%) HDT, 66psi (° F.) 329.7 237.5 287.3 303.8 233.1 HDT, 264 psi (° F.) 255.8 195.7240.7 218.3 194.2 Impact Izod Notched 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.4 (ft-lb/in),mean Impact Izod Notched 0.1 0 0 0.2 0 (ft-lb/in), stddev Impact IzodNotched, 25 0 0 66.7 0 rel. stddev (%) Tensile Elongation at 8.7 6.3 5.24.6 6.4 Break (%) Comp. Comp. Comp. Comp. Comp. Ex. 6 Ex. 7 Ex. 8 Ex. 9Ex. 10 COMPOSITION PP-g-PS 0.00 0.00 0.00 10.00 5.00 hi-S SEBS 0.00 0.000.00 0.00 0.00 lo-S SEBS 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 PPE 45.00 10.00 30.0010.00 60.00 HIPS 35.00 35.00 0.00 50.00 15.00 xPS 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.000.00 SBS 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 PP pellets 22.00 57.00 72.00 32.0022.00 EPR 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Glass Fibers-14 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.000.00 PROPERTIES Flexural Modulus (psi), 317,200 230,000 229,400 284,900335,400 mean Flex Modulus (psi),  5,014  2,181  7,107    835  1,999stddev Flex Modulus, rel. 1.58 0.95 3.10 0.29 0.60 stddev (%) HDT, 66psi (° F.) 284.2 216.8 252.6 215.3 324.0 HDT, 264 psi (° F.) 241.0 168.3154.7 178.3 271.3 Impact Izod Notched 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.4 (ft-lb/in),mean Impact Izod Notched 0 0 0 0 0 (ft-lb/in), stddev Impact IzodNotched, 0 0 0 0 0 rel. stddev (%) Tensile Elongation at 5.5 13.6 7.39.3 6.2 Break (%)

EXAMPLES 5-9

[0097] These examples provide additional illustration of the excellentproperty balance provided by the composition. Samples were prepared andtested as described for Examples 1-4, above. Compositions and propertiesare given in Table 3, below. TABLE 3 Ex. 5 Ex. 6 Ex. 7 COMPOSITION PPE15.00 15.00 15.00 xPS 3.75 3.75 19.43 SBS 9.25 9.25 15.00 SEBS H104310.00 10.00 10.00 PP, PD403 42.50 42.50 20.00 EPR 7.50 7.50 8.57 PP-g-MA2.00 2.00 2.00 Glass Fibers-14 10.00 10.00 10.00 PROPERTIES FlexuralModulus, 23° C., ⅛″ (psi) 314,800 315,600 321,300 Flexural Strength atYield, 23° C., 10,310 10,270 10,140 ⅛″ (psi) HDT, 66 psi, ⅛″ (° F.)294.1 291.7 258.9 HDT, 264 psi, ⅛″ (° F.) 224.4 228.1 218.1 NotchedIzod, 23° C. (ft-lb/in) 3.7 3.8 4.1 Notched Izod, −30° C. (ft-lb/in) 2.22.3 3.1 Unnotched Izod, 23° C. (ft-lb/in) 11.5 11.2 11.9 Energy toMaximum Load, 23° C., 7.5 8.50 8.58 8.91 mph (ft-lb) Tensile Strength atBreak, 23° C. (psi) 6,162 6,480 6,293 Tensile Elongation at Break, 23°C. 11.47 10.53 11.40 (%) Ex.8 Ex.9 COMPOSITION PPE 15.00 15.00 xPS 3.7519.43 SBS 15.00 15.00 SEBS H1043 10.00 10.00 PP, PD403 44.25 20.00 EPR0.00 8.57 PP-g-MA 2.00 2.00 Glass Fibers-14 10.00 10.00 PROPERTIESFlexural Modulus, 23° C., ⅛″ (psi) 323,100 333,900 Flexural Strength atYield, 23° C., ⅛″ 10,510 10,260 (psi) HDT, 66 psi, ⅛″ (° F.) 291.8 258.8HDT, 264 psi, ⅛″ (° F.) 228.6 218.1 Notched Izod, 23° C. (ft-lb/in) 3.84.5 Notched Izod, −30° C. (ft-lb/in) 2.3 2.9 Unnotched Izod, 23° C.(ft-lb/in) 11.7 13.0 Energy to Maximum Load, 23° C., 7.5 9.05 8.64 mph(ft-lb) Tensile Strength at Break, 23° C. (psi) 6,431 6,213 TensileElongation at Break, 23° C. 10.38 12.42 (%)

EXAMPLES 10-15, COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 11-16

[0098] These examples and comparative examples illustrate the advantagesassociated with the presence of an unhydrogenated block copolymer in thecomposition and further illustrate compositions comprising a non-fibrousreinforcing filler. Components are the same as those described in Table1, except that the poly(arylene ether) (PPE) had an intrinsic viscosityof 0.46 dL/g as measured at 25° C. in chloroform. “Additives” refers toa 1:1:3 weight ratio blend of magnesium oxide, zinc sulfide, andtridodecyl phosphite. Samples were prepared and tested as described forExamples 1-4, above. Compositions and properties are given in Table 4,below. Pair-wise comparisons of samples with and without theunhydrogenated block copolymer SBS show that its presence is generallyassociated with higher notched Izod impact strength at 23° C. and −30°C., higher energy to maximum load at −30° C., and higher energy tofailure at −30° C. Pair-wise comparisons of Exs. 10 and 11, and of Exs.12 and 13 show that the presence of the ethylene-alpha olefin copolymerEBR is associated with improved notched Izod impact strength at 23° C.and −30° C. TABLE 4 C. Ex. 11 Ex. 10 C. Ex. 12 Ex. 11 COMPOSITION PP,PD403 45.00 40.00 40.00 35.00 EBR 0.00 0.00 5.00 5.00 SBS 0.00 5.00 0.005.00 SEBS H1043 8.00 8.00 8.00 8.00 xPS 12.00 12.00 12.00 12.00 PP-g-MA2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 glass fibers-14 15.00 15.00 15.00 15.00 talc 0.000.00 0.00 0.00 PPE 0.46 IV 18.00 18.00 18.00 18.00 Additives 0.25 0.250.25 0.25 PROPERTIES Flexural Modulus, 23° C., 500,900 470,000 435,600449,700 ⅛″ (psi) std. dev. 41,690 7,236 6,499 6,493 Flexural Strength atYield, 15,410 14,670 13,930 13,930 23° C., ⅛″ (psi) std. dev. 607 103141 123 HDT, 264 psi, ⅛″ (° F.) 252.2 251.1 239.3 249.9 std. dev. 4.22.0 3.5 0.8 HDT, 66 psi, ⅛″ (° F.) 300.0 299.4 295.7 295.4 std. dev. 4.21.2 1.0 0.4 Notched Izod, 23° C. (ft-lb/in) 2.1 2.3 2.7 2.9 std. dev.0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 Notched Izod, −30° C. 1.2 1.4 1.4 1.8 (ft-lb/in) std.dev. 0.1 0.0 0.1 0 Energy to Maximum Load, 23° C., 7.5 mph (ft-lb) 3.033.30 3.08 2.96 std. dev. 1.03 1.66 0.91 0.27 Energy to Failure, 23° C.,8.77 9.66 10.29 9.96 7.5 mph (ft-lb) std. dev. 2.79 0.53 0.54 0.39Energy to Maximum Load, 4.49 4.65 5.69 5.40 −30° C., 7.5 mph (ft-lb)4.49 4.65 5.69 5.40 std. dev. 2.78 2.04 2.44 1.38 Energy to Failure,−30° C., 7.82 8.79 10.71 12.76 7.5 mph (ft-lb) std. dev. 3.94 3.45 2.090.68 Energy to Maximum Load, 0.52 0.71 0.71 1.12 −30° C., 5 mph (ft-lb)std. dev. 0.08 0.41 0.27 0.43 Energy to Failure, −30° C., 0.57 0.85 0.832.14 5 mph (ft-lb) std. dev. 0.08 0.50 0.30 0.57 Tensile Strength atYield, 10,051 9,959 9,564 9,482 23° C. (psi) std. dev. 42.6 51.7 40.349.6 Tensile Strength at Break, 10,036 9,942 9,527 9,465 23° C. (psi)std. dev. 39 58 48 46 Tensile Elongation at Break, 9.35 9.08 10.36 9.5723° C. (%) std. dev. 0.16 0.14 0.25 0.13 C. Ex. 13 Ex. 12 C. Ex. 14 Ex.13 COMPOSITION PP, PD403 30.00 30.00 25.5 25.5 EBR 0.00 0.00 4.50 4.50SBS 0.00 4.50 0.00 4.50 SEBS H1043 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 xPS 16.00 11.5016.00 11.50 PP-g-MA 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 glass fibers-14 30.00 30.0030.00 30.00 talc 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 PPE 0.46 IV 16.00 16.00 16.00 16.00Additives 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 PROPERTIES Flexural Modulus, 23° C.,776,200 866,900 766,100 756,600 ⅛″ (psi) std. dev. 98,800 18,590 24,14017,350 Flexural Strength at Yield, 20,050 20,170 19,130 18,500 23° C.,⅛″ (psi) std. dev. 1,313 343 245 281 HDT, 264 psi, ⅛″ (° F.) 274.2 278.3263.1 266.5 std. dev. 0.6 1.9 1.0 1.6 HDT, 66 psi, ⅛″ (° F.) 302.7 306.1294.7 300.2 std. dev. 0.8 0.7 0.6 1.4 Notched Izod, 23° C. (ft-lb/in)2.1 2.2 2.6 2.9 std. dev. 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 Notched Izod, −30° C. 1.6 1.71.9 2.1 (ft-lb/in) std. dev. 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 Energy to Maximum Load,4.51 2.66 3.78 3.23 23° C., 7.5 mph (ft-lb) std. dev. 1.73 0.22 1.900.35 Energy to Failure, 23° C., 12.05 12.04 12.13 11.49 7.5 mph (ft-lb)std. dev. 0.54 0.59 0.90 0.53 Energy to Maximum Load, 6.68 5.29 5.135.51 −30° C., 7.5 mph (ft/lb) std. dev. 1.13 3.12 2.53 2.55 Energy toFailure, −30° C., 10.75 10.95 12.53 13.72 7.5 mph (ft-lb) std. dev. 2.301.77 2.09 2.05 Energy to Maximum Load, 1.15 1.19 1.61 1.95 −30° C., 5mph (ft-lb) std. dev. 0.55 0.30 0.28 0.30 Energy to Failure, −30° C.,3.00 2.63 3.04 3.53 7.5 mph (ft-lb) std. dev. 0.61 0.50 0.37 0.70Tensile Strength at Yield, 14,548 13,876 13,786 13,019 23° C. (psi) std.dev. 43.3 73.6 98.9 102.0 Tensile Strength at Break, 14,548 13,87613,786 13,019 23° C. (psi) std. dev. 43.4 73.4 98.9 102.0 TensileElongation at Break, 6.73 6.71 7.46 7.32 23° C. (%) std. dev. 0.10 0.090.05 0.11 C. Ex. 15 Ex. 14 C. Ex. 16 Ex. 15 COMPOSITION PP, PD403 42.0042.00 39.00 39.00 EBR 0.00 0.00 3.00 3.00 SBS 0.00 3.00 0.00 3.00 SEBSH1043 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 xPS 12.00 9.00 12.00 9.00 PP-g-MA 2.00 2.002.00 2.00 glass fibers-14 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 talc 20.00 20.00 20.0020.00 PPE 0.46 IV 18.00 18.00 18.00 18.00 Additives 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25PROPERTIES Flexural Modulus, 23° C., 359,800 348,200 337,300 338,200 ⅛″(psi) std. dev. 14,850 2,787 4,600 2,071 Flexural Strength at Yield,9,979 9,449 9,324 8,978 23° C., ⅛″ (psi) std. dev. 35 45 45 100 HDT, 264psi, ⅛″ (° F.) 189.5 187.3 188.4 181.3 std. dev. 4.3 2.4 0.2 1.4 HDT, 66psi, ⅛″ (° F.) 273.0 266.6 267.5 263.1 std. dev. 5.8 2.4 2.7 1.2 NotchedIzod, 23° C. (ft-lb/in) 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.4 std. dev. 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0Notched Izod, −30° C. ft-lb/in 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 std. dev. 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1Energy to Maximum Load, 23° C., 7.5 mph (ft-lb) 4.38 5.65 5.49 15.48std. dev. 1.98 1.74 3.70 3.12 Energy to Failure, 23° C., 4.66 6.47 5.8316.53 7.5 mph (ft-lb) std. dev. 2.05 1.69 3.79 4.17 Energy to MaximumLoad, 1.25 1.44 2.25 4.4 −30° C., 7.5 mph (ft-lb) std. dev. 2.00 0.311.52 1.06 Energy to Failure, 1.37 1.57 2.42 4.69 −30° C., 7.5 mph(ft-lb) std. dev. 0.21 0.32 1.59 1.11 Energy to Maximum Load, 0.59 1.470.78 2.53 −30° C., 5 mph (ft-lb) std. dev. 0.13 0.53 0.19 1.03 Energy toFailure, 0.67 1.57 0.86 2.66 −30° C., 5 mph (ft-lb) std. dev. 0.12 0.550.22 1.05 Tensile Strength at Yield, 6,416 5,987 5,950 5,617 23° C.(psi) std. dev. 18.5 20.2 8.5 48.6 Tensile Strength at Break, 5,7645,298 5,460 4,926 23° C. (psi) std. dev. 187.5 34.6 123.8 143.6 TensileElongation at Break, 38.34 48.77 41.50 56.66 23° C. (%) std. dev. 7.591.05 5.78 9.57

EXAMPLES 16 and 17

[0099] These examples further illustrate the advantages associated withcompositions comprising a polystyrene-graft-cyclic anhydride copolymer,even when the compositions contain no unhydrogenated block copolymer.Components are the same as those described in Table 1, except that thepoly(arylene ether) (PPE) had an intrinsic viscosity of 0.46 dL/g asmeasured at 25° C. in chloroform. “Additives” refers to a 1:1:3 weightratio blend of magnesium oxide, zinc sulfide, and tridodecyl phosphite.Samples were prepared and tested as described for Examples 1-4, above.Compositions and properties are given in Table 5, below. TABLE 5 Ex. 16Ex. 17 COMPOSITION PP, PD403 15.72 16.31 PP-EPR, HECO-30 21.70 8.85 SEBSH1043 9.98 4.99 xPS 4.14 8.34 PP-g-MA 2.00 2.00 glass fibers-14 31.2639.92 PPE 0.46 IV 14.96 19.36 Additives 0.25 0.25 PROPERTIES FlexuralModulus, 23° C., ⅛″ (psi) 843,400 1,212,000 std. dev. 19,630 15,010Flexural Strength at Yield, 23° C., ⅛″ 20,080 23,130 (psi) std. dev. 118201 HDT, 264 psi, ⅛″ (° F.) 292 294.4 std. dev. 7.0 1.3 HDT, 66 psi, ⅛″(° F.) 313.9 315.7 std. dev. 0.3 0.1 Notched Izod, 23° C. (ft-lb/in) 2.92.0 std. dev. 0.1 0.1 Notched Izod, −30° C. (ft-lb/in) 1.8 1.5 std. dev.0.1 <0.05 Energy to Maximum Load, 23° C., 7.5 4.96 7.53 mph (ft-lb) std.dev 2.45 1.12 Energy to Maximum Load, −30° C., 7.5 6.65 6.19 mph (ft-lb)std. dev. 2.65 2.24 Total Energy, 23° C., 7.5 mph (ft-lb) 13.6 12.6 std.dev. 0.6 1.1 Total Energy, −30° C., 7.5 mph (ft-lb) 6.6 6.16 std. dev.2.65 2.24 Tensile Strength at Yield, 23° C. (psi) 12,781 14,830 std.dev. 130 150 Tensile Strength at Break, 23° C. (psi) 12,780 14,830 std.dev. 130.5 153.9 Tensile Elongation at Break, 23° C. (%) 7.32 5.79 std.dev. 0.21 0.16

[0100] While the invention has been described with reference to apreferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the artthat various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted forelements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. Inaddition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situationor material to the teachings of the invention without departing fromessential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the inventionnot be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best modecontemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the inventionwill include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appendedclaims.

[0101] All cited patents, patent applications, and other references areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

1. A thermoplastic composition, comprising: a poly(arylene ether); apoly(alkenyl aromatic) resin in an amount of at least about 10 weightpercent of the total of the poly(arylene ether) and the poly(alkenylaromatic) resin; a polyolefin; a hydrogenated block copolymer of analkenyl aromatic compound and a conjugated diene, wherein thehydrogenated block copolymer has an alkenyl aromatic content of about 40to about 90 weight percent; a polyolefin-graft-cyclic anhydridecopolymer; and a reinforcing filler.
 2. The thermoplastic composition ofclaim 1, wherein the poly(arylene ether) comprises a plurality ofstructural units of the formula

wherein for each structural unit, each Q¹ is independently halogen,primary or secondary C₁-C₈ alkyl, phenyl, C₁-C₈ haloalkyl, C₁-C₈aminoalkyl, C₁-C₈ hydrocarbonoxy, or C₂-C₈ halohydrocarbonoxy wherein atleast two carbon atoms separate the halogen and oxygen atoms; and eachQ² is independently hydrogen, halogen, primary or secondary C₁-C₈ alkyl,phenyl, C₁-C₈ haloalkyl, C₁-C₈ aminoalkyl, C₁-C₈ hydrocarbonoxy, orC₂-C₈ halohydrocarbonoxy wherein at least two carbon atoms separate thehalogen and oxygen atoms.
 3. The thermoplastic composition of claim 2,wherein each Q¹ is independently C₁-C alkyl or phenyl, and each Q² isindependently hydrogen or methyl.
 4. The thermoplastic composition ofclaim 1, wherein the poly(arylene ether) is a copolymer of2,6-dimethylphenol and 2,3,6-trimethylphenol.
 5. The thermoplasticcomposition of claim 1, wherein the poly(arylene ether) is present atabout 10 weight percent to about 55 weight percent, based on the totalweight of the composition.
 6. The thermoplastic composition of claim 1,wherein the poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin comprises at least 25% byweight of structural units derived from an alkenyl aromatic monomer ofthe formula

wherein R1 is hydrogen, C1-C8 alkyl, or halogen; Z is vinyl, halogen, orC1-C8 alkyl; and p is 0 to
 5. 7. The thermoplastic composition of claim6, wherein the poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin comprises at least onepoly(alkenyl aromatic) resin selected from the group consisting ofatactic homopolystyrene, syndiotactic homopolystyrene, rubber-modifiedpolystyrene, and mixtures comprising at least one of the foregoingpoly(alkenyl aromatic) resins.
 8. The thermoplastic composition of claim1, wherein the poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin is present at about 1 weightpercent to about 50 weight percent, based on the total weight of thecomposition.
 9. The thermoplastic composition of claim 1, wherein thepolyolefin comprises a homopolymer or copolymer having at least about 80weight percent of units derived from polymerization of ethylene,propylene, butylene, or a mixture thereof.
 10. The thermoplasticcomposition of claim 1, wherein the polyolefin is a propylene polymer;wherein the propylene polymer is a homopolymer of polypropylene, or arandom, graft, or block copolymer of propylene and at least one olefinselected from ethylene and C₄-C₁₀ alpha-olefins, with the proviso thatthe copolymer comprises at least about 80 weight percent of repeatingunits derived from propylene.
 11. The thermoplastic composition of claim1, wherein the polyolefin comprises a homopolypropylene.
 12. Thethermoplastic composition of claim 1, wherein the polyolefin is presentat about 10 weight percent to about 60 weight percent, based on thetotal weight of the composition.
 13. The thermoplastic composition ofclaim 1, wherein the hydrogenated block copolymer comprises: (A) atleast one block derived from an alkenyl aromatic compound having theformula

wherein R² and R³ each represent a hydrogen atom, a C₁-C₈ alkyl group,or a C₂-C₈ alkenyl group; R⁴ and R⁸ each represent a hydrogen atom, aC₁-C₈ alkyl group, a chlorine atom, or a bromine atom; and R⁵-R⁷ eachindependently represent a hydrogen atom, a C₁-C₈ alkyl group, or a C₂-C₈alkenyl group, or R⁴ and R⁵ are taken together with the central aromaticring to form a naphthyl group, or R⁵ and R⁶ are taken together with thecentral aromatic ring to form a naphthyl group including; and (B) atleast one block derived from a conjugated diene, in which the aliphaticunsaturated group content in the block (B) is reduced by hydrogenation.14. The thermoplastic composition of claim 1, wherein the hydrogenatedblock copolymer comprises a styrene-(ethylene-butylene)-styrene triblockcopolymer.
 15. The thermoplastic composition of claim 1, wherein thehydrogenated block copolymer has a styrene content of about 50 to about85 weight percent.
 16. The thermoplastic composition of claim 1, whereinthe hydrogenated block copolymer has a styrene content of about 55 toabout 70 weight percent.
 17. The thermoplastic composition of claim 1,wherein the hydrogenated block copolymer is present at about 1 weightpercent to about 20 weight percent, based on the total weight of thecomposition.
 18. The thermoplastic composition of claim 1, wherein the apolyolefin-graft-cyclic anhydride copolymer is apolypropylene-graft-maleic anhydride copolymer.
 19. The thermoplasticcomposition of claim 1, wherein the a polyolefin-graft-cyclic anhydridecopolymer is present at about 0.1 to about 10 weight percent, based onthe total weight of the composition.
 20. The thermoplastic compositionof claim 1, wherein the reinforcing filler is selected from the groupconsisting of glass fibers, talc, quartz fibers, carbon fibers,potassium titanate fibers, silicon carbide fibers, boron carbide fibers,gypsum fibers, aluminum oxide fibers, iron fibers, nickel fibers, copperfibers, wollastonite fibers, poly(ether ketone) fibers, polyimidebenzoxazole fibers, poly(phenylene sulfide) fibers, polyester fibers,aromatic polyamide fibers, aromatic polyimide fibers, aromaticpolyetherimide fibers, acrylic fibers, poly(vinyl alcohol) fibers,polytetrafluoroethylene fibers, and combinations comprising at least oneof the foregoing reinforcing fillers.
 21. The thermoplastic compositionof claim 1, wherein the reinforcing filler comprises glass fibers havinga diameter of about 2 to about 25 micrometers.
 22. The thermoplasticcomposition of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing filler comprises talc.23. The thermoplastic composition of claim 1, wherein the reinforcingfiller comprises vapor-grown carbon fibers having an average diameter ofabout 3 to about 500 nanometers.
 24. The thermoplastic composition ofclaim 1, wherein the reinforcing filler comprises a surface coating inan amount effective to increase compatibility with the polyolefin. 25.The thermoplastic composition of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing filleris present at about 1 weight percent to about 50 weight percent, basedon the total weight of the composition.
 26. The thermoplasticcomposition of claim 1, further comprising an unhydrogenated blockcopolymer of alkenyl aromatic compound and a conjugated diene.
 27. Thethermoplastic composition of claim 26, wherein the unhydrogenated blockcopolymer comprises a styrene-butadiene diblock copolymer or astyrene-butadiene-styrene triblock copolymer.
 28. The thermoplasticcomposition of claim 26, wherein the unhydrogenated block copolymer ofalkenyl aromatic compound and a conjugated diene is present at about 0.5weight percent to about 20 weight percent, based on the total weight ofthe composition.
 29. The thermoplastic composition of claim 1, furthercomprising a polypropylene-polystyrene graft copolymer.
 30. Thethermoplastic composition of claim 29, wherein thepolypropylene-polystyrene graft copolymer comprises a graft copolymerhaving a propylene polymer backbone and one or more styrene polymergrafts.
 31. The thermoplastic composition of claim 29, wherein thepolypropylene-polystyrene graft copolymer comprises about 10 to about 90weight percent propylene polymer backbone and about 90 to about 10weight percent styrene polymer grafts.
 32. The thermoplastic compositionof claim 29, wherein the polypropylene-polystyrene graft copolymer ispresent at about 0.5 weight percent to about 20 weight percent, based onthe total weight of the composition.
 33. The thermoplastic compositionof claim 1, further comprising an ethylene/alpha-olefin elastomericcopolymer at about 0.5 weight percent to about 25 weight percent, basedon the total weight of the composition.
 34. The thermoplasticcomposition of claim 33, wherein the ethylene/alpha-olefin elastomericcopolymer comprises a copolymer of ethylene and at least one C₃-C₁₀alpha-olefin.
 35. The thermoplastic composition of claim 33, wherein theethylene/alpha-olefin elastomeric copolymer comprises anethylene-butylene rubber, an ethylene-propylene rubber, or a mixturethereof.
 36. The thermoplastic composition of claim 1, furthercomprising a hydrogenated block copolymer of an alkenyl aromaticcompound and a conjugated diene, wherein the hydrogenated blockcopolymer has an alkenyl aromatic content of about 10 to less than 40weight percent.
 37. The thermoplastic composition of claim 1, furthercomprising an additive selected from the group consisting ofstabilizers, mold release agents, processing aids, flame retardants,drip retardants, nucleating agents, UV blockers, dyes, pigments,particulate fillers, antioxidants, anti-static agents, blowing agents,and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing additives. 38.The thermoplastic composition of claim 1, wherein the composition aftermolding exhibits a flexural modulus at 23° C. according to ASTM D790greater than about 300 kpsi.
 39. The thermoplastic composition of claim1, wherein the composition after molding exhibits a sample-to-samplevariability in Flexural Modulus at 23° C. of less than about 10 percent.40. A thermoplastic composition, comprising: a poly(arylene ether); apoly(alkenyl aromatic) resin; a polyolefin; a hydrogenated blockcopolymer of an alkenyl aromatic compound and a conjugated diene,wherein the hydrogenated block copolymer has an alkenyl aromatic contentof about 40 to about 90 weight percent; a polypropylene-polystyrenegraft copolymer or an unhydrogenated block copolymer of an alkenylaromatic compound and a conjugated diene; and a reinforcing filler. 41.A thermoplastic composition, comprising: about 10 to about 55 weightpercent of a poly(arylene ether); about 1 to about 50 weight percent ofa poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin; wherein the amount of poly(alkenylaromatic) resin is at least about 10 weight percent of the total of thepoly(arylene ether) and the poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin; about 10 toabout 60 weight percent of a polyolefin; about 1 to about 20 weightpercent of a hydrogenated block copolymer of alkenyl aromatic compoundand a conjugated diene having an alkenyl aromatic content of about 40 toabout 90 weight percent; about 0.1 to about 10 weight percent of apolyolefin-graft-cyclic anhydride copolymer; and about 1 to about 50weight percent of a reinforcing filler; wherein all weight percents arebased on the total weight of the composition.
 42. A thermoplasticcomposition, comprising: about 10 to about 55 weight percent of apoly(arylene ether); about 1 to about 50 weight percent of apoly(alkenyl aromatic) resin; about 10 to about 60 weight percent of apolyolefin; about 1 to about 20 weight percent of a hydrogenated blockcopolymer of alkenyl aromatic compound and a conjugated diene having analkenyl aromatic content of about 40 to about 90 weight percent; about0.5 to about 20 weight percent of a polypropylene-polystyrene graftcopolymer or an unhydrogenated block copolymer of an alkenyl aromaticcompound and a conjugated diene; and about 1 to about 50 weight percentof a reinforcing filler; wherein all weight percents are based on thetotal weight of the composition.
 43. A thermoplastic composition,comprising: about 10 to about 55 weight percent of a poly(aryleneether); about 1 to about 50 weight percent of a poly(alkenyl aromatic)resin; about 10 to about 60 weight percent of a polyolefin; about 1 toabout 20 weight percent of a hydrogenated block copolymer of alkenylaromatic compound and a conjugated diene having an alkenyl aromaticcontent of about 40 to about 90 weight percent; about 1 to about 50weight percent of a reinforcing filler; about 0.5 to about 20 weightpercent of a polypropylene-polystyrene graft copolymer or anunhydrogenated block copolymer of an alkenyl aromatic compound and aconjugated diene; and about 0.5 to about 25 weight percent of anethylene/alpha-olefin elastomeric copolymer; wherein all weight percentsare based on the total weight of the composition.
 44. A thermoplasticcomposition, comprising the reaction product of: a poly(arylene ether);a poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin in an amount of at least about 10 weightpercent of the total of the poly(arylene ether) and the poly(alkenylaromatic) resin; a polyolefin; a hydrogenated block copolymer of analkenyl aromatic compound and a conjugated diene, wherein thehydrogenated block copolymer has an alkenyl aromatic content of about 40to about 90 weight percent; a polyolefin-graft-cyclic anhydridecopolymer; and a reinforcing filler.
 45. An article comprising thecomposition of claim
 44. 46. An article comprising the composition ofclaim 44, wherein the article is formed using at least one methodselected from the group consisting of injection molding, blow molding,extrusion, sheet extrusion, film extrusion, profile extrusion,pultrusion, compression molding, thermoforming, pressure forming,hydroforming, and vacuum forming.
 47. A sheet comprising the compositionof claim 44.